US justice department releases cache of Epstein files

Jeffrey EpsteinAdd to myFTGet instant alerts for this topicManage your delivery channels hereRemove from myFTUS justice department releases cache of Epstein filesHeavily redacted documents include images of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Bill Clinton and Donald TrumpJeffrey Epstein and Michael Jackson (Image supplied by the House Oversight Committee) US justice department releases cache of Epstein files on x (opens in a new window)US justice department releases cache of Epstein files on facebook (opens in a new window)US justice department releases cache of Epstein files on linkedin (opens in a new window)US justice department releases cache of Epstein files on whatsapp (opens in a new window) Save US justice department releases cache of Epstein files on x (opens in a new window)US justice department releases cache of Epstein files on facebook (opens in a new window)US justice department releases cache of Epstein files on linkedin (opens in a new window)US justice department releases cache of Epstein files on whatsapp (opens in a new window) Save Lauren Fedor in WashingtonPublishedDecember 19 2025UpdatedDecember 19 2025Jump to comments sectionPrint this pageUnlock the White House Watch newsletter for freeYour guide to what Trump’s second term means for Washington, business and the worldThe US Department of Justice has published a trove of heavily redacted documents relating to the late child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, partially fulfilling a congressional order to release the files. The documents include images of high-profile men such as former president Bill Clinton, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, Virgin founder Richard Branson and Donald Trump as well as testimony given to FBI investigators. One picture shows a desk covered in framed photos of Epstein and famous people, including Pope John Paul II. A photograph of Trump appears in the desk drawer.Photos of Epstein with famous people from Friday’s release (Image supplied by the House Oversight Committee) The limited disclosures, published on the department’s website on Friday, mark the latest chapter in a saga that has ignited a political firestorm on both sides of the Atlantic amid questions about Epstein’s ties to rich and powerful figures, from the US president to British politician Peter Mandelson. Trump did not comment on the documents’ publication on Friday and declined to take questions from reporters at a White House event shortly before the files were released.Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell (Image supplied by the House Oversight Committee) “I really don’t want to soil it up by asking questions, even questions that are very fair questions that I’d love to answer,” he said.The DoJ’s heavily redacted disclosures are unlikely to silence critics who have accused the administration of blocking information about the Epstein case. Deputy attorney-general Todd Blanche on Friday acknowledged that the DoJ would not release all its materials right away — as the law enacted last month required — saying more files would be made public “over the next couple of weeks”.Former US president Bill Clinton (Image supplied by the House Oversight Committee) An analysis by the Financial Times suggests at least 3,700 of the documents released were photographs or albums. The largest item, 119 pages long, was entirely redacted save for the words “Grand Jury-NY”.The release included several pictures of Clinton, including one undated photograph of him in what appears to be a hot tub. Another showed Clinton in a swimming pool with a woman whose face had been redacted and Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s one-time girlfriend who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for child sex-trafficking offences.Maxwell and Clinton (Image supplied by the House Oversight Committee) There was no suggestion that those pictured in the latest images had committed any wrongdoing.A spokesperson for Clinton did not immediately respond to comment. But the spokesperson posted on social media a screenshot of a statement that White House chief of staff Susie Wiles made to Vanity Fair this week.Wiles told the magazine there was “no evidence” Clinton had visited Epstein’s private island in the Caribbean.Friday’s release came a day after Democratic legislators published a new batch of photographs from the Epstein estate, showing prominent figures such as Bill Gates and Sergey Brin. The House oversight committee is running its own investigation into Epstein, separate from the DoJ.Trump and allies had angered parts of his Maga base for months by seeking to block the release of the DoJ’s files, which include evidence gathered during multiple criminal and civil investigations into Epstein and his associates.Redacted documents released by the Department of Justice (Image supplied by the House Oversight Committee) © Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty ImagesBut a bipartisan vote in Congress last month compelled the justice department to publish its files. The president signed the measure into law on November 19.The legislation gave US attorney-general Pam Bondi 30 days to hand over the materials but allowed the department to withhold files that could jeopardise active federal investigations or pose national security concerns. Friday was the deadline. Democrats criticised the DoJ’s decision to hold back material and redact many documents. Chuck Schumer, the party’s Senate leader, said Friday’s release was “a fraction” of the evidence. “Simply releasing a mountain of blacked-out pages violates the spirit of transparency and the letter of the law.”A bin marked ‘JE Personal’, folders and redacted photos (Image supplied by the House Oversight Committee) White House officials said the redactions were designed to protect sex- trafficking victims. “Why do the sickos in the liberal media want a document called ‘masseuse list’, which was clearly redacted to protect victims, to be public?” Abigail Jackson, a White House spokesperson, said on X, referring to one blacked- out file.Questions remain about Trump’s links to Epstein, who was found dead in his jail cell in 2019 while he was awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. Trump has acknowledged he and Epstein were once friends but said they had a falling out more than two decades ago. He has vehemently denied any involvement in Epstein’s criminal activities.Last month, the House oversight committee published thousands of Epstein estate documents, including a 2011 email in which he said Trump “spent hours at my house” with a woman later identified as a victim of sex trafficking.Undated photographs published last week by House Democrats showed images of Trump, who appeared alongside the financier in one image. The president told reporters there were “hundreds and hundreds of people that have photos with him”. A White House spokesperson accused Democrats of publishing “cherry-picked photos with random redactions to try and create a false narrative”.Reuse this content (opens in new window) CommentsJump to comments sectionPromoted Content Follow the topics in this article US politics & policy Add to myFT US society Add to myFT US Department of Justice Add to myFT Jeffrey Epstein Add to myFT Donald Trump Add to myFT CommentsComments have not been enabled for this article.